EXORDIUM regulates brassinosteroid-responsive genes.

In a screen for potential mediators of brassinosteroid (BR) effects, the EXORDIUM (EXO) protein was identified as a regulator of BR-responsive genes. The EXO gene was characterized as a BR-up-regulated gene. EXO overexpression under the control of the 35SCaMV promoter resulted in increased transcript levels of the BR-up-regulated KCS1, Exp5, delta-TIP, and AGP4 genes, which likely are involved in the mediation of BR-promoted growth. 35S::EXO lines grown in soil or in synthetic medium showed increased vegetative growth in comparison to wild-type plants, resembling the growth phenotype of BR-treated plants. Thus, the EXO protein most likely promotes growth via the modulation of gene expression patterns.